Pokemon GO may have started as a mobile game but it has soon turned into a fully fledged global phenomenon that makes people want to go outside and socialize more, boosts economy, and helps police investigations. However, not all of the side-effects of the Pokemon GO craze are positive, as witnessed by no other than Faith Ekakitie, Iowa Hawkeyes’ defensive lineman who recently got himself into quite an uncomfortable encounter with the police after being mistaken for a bank robber while playing Pokemon GO.
As Ekakitie himself revealed on Facebook, he feared for his life after about half a dozen of police officers surrounded his vehicle in the Iowa City park while he was inside trying to catch ’em all. The defensive lineman has apparently matched the description of a robust black male dressed up all in black with some kind of headwear. That same person robbed a local bank just moments before Ekakitie pulled up to the Iowa City park and got surrounded by officers. Iowa Hawkeyes’ star initially didn’t comply with officers’ requests to turn around and put his hands up because he was playing loud music through his headphones. He realized he was in trouble after guns got pulled and threats shouted. Luckily for everyone involved, the situation was resolved relatively peacefully. “My pockets were checked, my backpack was opened up and searched carefully, and I was asked to lift up my shirt while they searched my waistband,” revealed Ekakitie on Facebook.
As Iowa’s defensive lineman revealed, things could have easily taken a turn for the worse when he reached into his pocket to check Pokemon GO on his phone after the police issued the original order to turn around and put his hands in the air. The Iowa City Police Department has already confirmed this unfortunate misunderstanding. Ekakitie didn’t throw a huge fuss about this encounter and has thanked the Iowa City police for being professional about the whole ordeal. Iowa Hawkeyes’ player has also begged other Pokemon GO players to learn from his example and be “more aware of their surroundings” while playing their favorite monster-catching mobile game.